> Articles by: ChristpinaWhen I was a child growing up in Southern California, one of my favorite books was James Herriot’s Treasury for Children. A veterinarian, Dr. Herriot wrote both adult and children’s stories about his cases and patients in the English countryside, and his tales of veterinary medicine inspired me to become a veterinarian myself.
Research shows that trusted financial guidance helps veterinarians thrive, not just survive. That’s why CVMA has partnered with Sabadoodle to offer the 90-Day Money Mentorship Program. Financial stress is a leading cause of burnout, especially among early-career veterinarians navigating the shift from classroom to practice. Anxiety over money can impact care quality, productivity, and retention.
With veterinary professionals facing physically demanding work environments, the risk of occupational injuries remains a concern. From animal handling incidents to repetitive strain injuries, the need for timely and effective medical care is critical. Fortunately, telehealth is emerging as a transformative solution in occupational medicine—offering immediate access to care, streamlining workers’ compensation claims, and supporting faster recovery for injured veterinary staff.
This year, the CVMA is undergoing significant changes to update both its appearance and functionality, starting with our new logo and then transitioning to a new Association Management System (AMS). What is an AMS? Think of it like your Practice Information Management System. The AMS is a software platform that serves as the heart of the CVMA’s operations, managing membership records, event registrations, regulatory product sales, customer communications, and more.
General anesthetic procedures, especially those involving gas inhalant anesthesia, are regulated in California by laws enforced by the California Veterinary Medical Board (CVMB), the California Department of Industrial Relations Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (Cal/OSHA), and the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA). To comply with minimum practice standards, maximize worker and patient safety, and minimize environmental impact, veterinary practices must be familiar with the laws and regulations regarding general (gas) anesthesia.
Access to Care” is not just a trendy catchphrase—it has a long history. Common usage of the term began during the 1960s, primarily as a means to improve the availability of health care to the elderly and the poor. Related efforts to increase such access ultimately resulted in Medicare and Medicaid. Gradually, access to care has expanded to other groups that struggle to acquire adequate healthcare.
Veterinary medicine is changing—fast. From telemedicine and mobile services to evolving employee expectations, today’s veterinary practice looks very different than it did just a few years ago. But while clinical innovation charges ahead, one critical area often lags behind: insurance. Many practices are still relying on outdated policies that no longer match how they operate, leaving significant gaps in protection.
Dr. Kelly Byam serves on the CVMA’s Board of Governors, representing District III (Kern County VMA and Orange Belt VMA). If you are a member of District III, you may contact Dr. Byam at kbyam@cvma.net. I spent undergrad at Fresno State, post-grad at Lincoln University in Christchurch, New Zealand, and veterinary school at UC Davis.
For many veterinary practice owners, setting up a 401(k) plan feels like a one-and-done milestone—an important step in offering employee benefits and building a financial foundation for the business. But as with much in veterinary medicine, the initial diagnosis isn’t the end of the story. Plans evolve, needs shift, and overlooked details can quietly create problems over time.
Each year, the CVMA sends out a notice of open vacancies on American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) councils and committees and encourages members to apply for these voluntary positions. Below are the CVMA members who secured AVMA council/committee positions this year.
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